Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up

From Heather Corinna, founder and director of Scarleteen.com, and Isabella Rotman, cartoonist and sex⁠ (sex: Different things people choose to do to actively express or enact sexuality and sexual feelings; often this involves genitals, but not always. ) educator, a graphic novel guide that covers essential topics for preteens and young teens about their changing bodies and feelings. 

Friends Malia, Rico, Max, Sam and Alexis talk about all the weird and exciting parts of growing up! Using comics, activities and examples, they give encouragement and context for new and confusing feelings and experiences. This supportive group of friends are guides for some tricky subjects. Inclusive of different genders, sexualities, and other kinds of identity⁠ (identity: The defining character or personality of an individual; who we feel like we are as a person.) , Wait, What? covers important topics like:

• Bodies, including puberty⁠ (puberty: The process of physical and sexual changes from childhood to adulthood, initiated by hormone signals from the brain to the gonads. ) , body parts and body image
• Sexual and gender identity⁠ (gender identity: A person's own sense of whether and in what sense they feel they might be a man, a woman, neither, a mixture of genders, or another gender entirely.)
• Gender roles and stereotypes
• Crushes, relationships, and sexual feelings
• Boundaries and consent⁠ (consent: To freely and actively agree to do a specific thing with someone else with all the information about what that thing is, and the right to change your mind.)
• The media and cultural messages, specifically around bodies and sex
• How to be sensitive, kind, accepting, and mature
• Where to look for more information, support and help

A fun and easy-to-read guide from expert sex educators that gives readers a good basis and an age-appropriate start with sex, bodies and relationships education. The perfect complement to any school curriculum.

Groundbreaking sexuality educator Corinna, founder of the website Scarleteen, works with cartoonist Rotman to bring her knowledge and experience to this slim but mighty guide…This book consistently puts the needs of its readers first, meticulously working to emphasize gender⁠ (gender: Characteristics that are seen or presented as distinguishing between male and female in a society. Gender may or may not include assigned or chosen: social roles, feelings, behaviors and/or presentation or appearance.) diversity, individuality, and the messiness of adolescence….Body parts are intentionally ungendered, sexual⁠ (sexual: About or relating in some way to sex or sexuality.) orientations are shown as fluid and joyful, and there is a constant emphasis on the importance of friendships and mutual support. While brief, this guide manages to cover crucial topics thoroughly and humorously, reassuring readers that while all of this is a big deal, it’s something they can handle. The cartoony illustrations are appealing and fun, the book includes interactive activities such as word searches and crossword puzzles, and there’s a fairly thorough glossary in the back. This extremely modern guide to growing up excels in its field.  – Kirkus Reviews